Moroccans have fewer problems with the Dutch language than Turks

People with a non-western background fairly frequently indicate that Dutch is a difficult language for them. Turks find it harder than Moroccans to speak, read and write Dutch.

Problems with the Dutch language by ethnic background, 2006

Turks have most problems

A collective survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands and the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) among four groups of people with a non-western background reveals that Surinamese and Antilleans – as opposed to Turks and Moroccans – hardly have problems with the Dutch language. About 10 percent of Moroccans and 15 percent of Turks find it hard to speak, read and write Dutch. Writing and spelling in Dutch appears to be most difficult. A thorough command of the Dutch language is crucial for successful integration.

Second generation hardly have problems

Insufficient command of the Dutch language is limited to people with a non-western background born outside the Netherlands: 21 percent of first-generation Turks and 13 percent of first-generation Moroccans frequently or always have difficulty with speaking, reading and writing Dutch. These people have no affinity with the language, are usually older and poorly educated compared to the second generation.

Turks and Moroccans born in the Netherlands claim they hardly have problems with the Dutch language. The same applies to first and second-generation Surinamese and Antilleans.